Fathers Inside

Fathers Inside is an intensive group-work programme for men and young men in prison. The programme focuses on parental responsibilities and children’s education, development and wellbeing.

Fathers Inside uses drama, fiction, group discussion, games, and written portfolio work to enable students to develop a better understanding of their role as a father. The programme also challenges attitudes, develops skills essential to successful resettlement, and contributes to desistance from crime.

Programme:

A five-week parenting programme for men in prison.

Programme length:

Modular delivery over five weeks (delivered – full time) or nine weeks (delivered part time)

Who the programme is for:

Groups of 14 – 20 male prisoners aged 18 years or above, who have a child or children

Where is the programme delivered:

In Category A, B, C and resettlement prisons

Staff required:

Two full-time tutors and a part-time family support worker.

Methodology:

Uses role play, group discussions, games, written portfolio work and letter writing, underpinned by arts and participatory learning as part of the desistance model.

Qualifications offered:

We have not offered qualifications for the past 12 months, but this is something we are open to look into.

Delivery options:

Safe Ground provide training, resources and all relevant support and quality assurance for your staff to deliver Fathers Inside.

Barnardo’s and Family Strategic Partnership (2012), Are we nearly there yet, Dad? Illustrated the journey taken by six young fathers through a variety of service provision. It highlighted Fathers Inside as an example of best practice for successful intervention in advance of release and resettlement

What do our students say about Fathers inside ?

“Since Kevin started the Fathers Inside programme, he has changed and improved his parenting skills, the way he approaches difficult issues… Working together as a family, we are getting stronger and coping so much better and looking forward to the future”Wife of Fathers Inside Graduate, HMP Huntercombe, 2012

“There isn’t another programme that does what the Safe Ground programmes do. The way they work with the men, and involve their partners, and children, the manner in which they create confidence, motivation, and self-efficacy is unique”Family Interventions Manager, HMP&YOI Parc, 2012

Programmes & Services

“[Man Up] taught me about ways I should think about things and how I should act in certain situations… It helped me in terms of the way I want to be when I get out. It was a wake up a call, realised I need to get a job, sort myself out. The course could help someone who wants to change – it made me reflect on myself.”

Man Up Participant, HMYOI Isis 2014

Our story so far...

1993

1993 – 1996

Safe Ground is founded by Antonia Rubinstein and Polly Freeman in 1993, then established as a charity in 1995.

1997 – 1999

Men in prison at HMP Woodhill create a drugs prevention video ‘Ryan’s Choice’ for year 6 school children (1997/98)

‘Parents for the 21st Century’ collaboration with the prison service begins in 1999. This helps absent fathers, whom are in prison, learn how they can improve their parenting skills for children aged 6 to 12.

2000 – 2003

Film ‘Blinda’ is created by men in prison at HMP Wandsworth – the story concerns Frank, who is serving a 3-year sentence and has cut off all communication with his 8-year-old son Wayne.

‘Blinda’ wins an International Visual Communication Award in 2001.

Family Man launches at HMP Wandsworth in early 2003.

2004 – 2006

Family Man and Fathers Inside are firmly established, raising the profile of parenting and family relationships in prisons.

2016

Safe Ground turns 21! An Open House event is held for the public to learn more about the organisation’s history

‘MOVING. HOME.’ Symposium is held at the National Theatre, exploring the meaning of ‘home’ with a range of panellists, including Safe Ground alumni and Baroness Helena Kennedy QC

A Justice Data Lab analysis finds that Fathers Inside participants are 40% less likely to re-offend than their counterparts.

2017

Safe Ground win the Longford Prize for contribution to penal reform

Officers’ Mess is delivered at HMP Berwyn, with 86% of participants agreeing that the course made them think about how they respond in different situations

2018

The Who Am I? programme in partnership with Ormiston Families’ Transforming Rehabilitation is rolled out in probation sites across the East of England.

Future

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